Lewis Black: Stark Raving Black

To review a comedian in a stand-up concert film is a difficult thing to do because all you can say is whether he is funny or not, and that's not a comment on the comedian, so much as your sense of humor. To review a political humorist -- if you can call Lewis Black political -- is even more difficult, because, despite the constant opportunities for mockery offered by politicians, they also excite strong emotions for and against: if you think that President Bush -- any President Bush -- is an ass, then you are caught between thinking any put-down of him is somewhere between hilarious and suicide-inciting. If you think Bush is a Great Man -- and someone, somewhere probably thinks so -- then you are intensely offended.

Lewis Black, however, is not so much a political commentator as an observer of idiocy. His political jibes are shot freely at politicians who behave idiotically and people who ask him if, now that Bush is out of office, will he have anything to be funny about. His humor is Will Rogers' bemusement filtered through Alan King's outrage at the the thought that this is the best people can do.

Mr. Black covers all the bases in his outrage, from formal politics to the nonsense of aging Baby Boomers to how his parents have managed to stay together for more than six decades.

And, yes, he is funny. At least I think so. Very, very funny. Take a look and see if you agree.